Prof. S.T. Amupitan, clad in a white agbada and gold cap, arrived at the State House in Abuja on Thursday morning, exchanging pleasantries with guests before the swearing-in ceremony.
The 58-year-old Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and law professor took the oath of office at 1:50 pm in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa.
In his address, President Bola Tinubu charged the new Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman to protect the integrity of Nigeria's electoral system and bolster the commission's institutional strength.
Tinubu emphasized that Amupitan must guarantee credible future elections through fairness, professionalism, and transparency.
The inauguration followed the Senate's confirmation of Amupitan's appointment on October 16, exactly one week prior, after a rigorous screening.
During the Senate hearing, Amupitan detailed his vision to reform the electoral process, enhance INEC's independence, and restore public trust.
"We must conduct elections where even the loser will congratulate the winner and say, ‘You won fairly and well’. When that happens, voters’ confidence will naturally be restored," he told lawmakers.He committed to prioritizing Electoral Act amendments, clarifying ambiguous timelines, and increasing poll transparency.
Amupitan firmly denied allegations of involvement in President Tinubu's legal team during the 2023 presidential election petition, stating: “I never appeared before the Presidential Election Tribunal or the Supreme Court for any of the parties,” while affirming his impartiality.
Amupitan is set to assume duties immediately, initiating the transition at INEC headquarters in Abuja. He becomes the sixth substantive chairman since the commission's inception, succeeding Prof.
Mahmood Yakubu, whose term expired on October 7, 2025.
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